Bowling game.



No. 66|,730. Patented Nov. I3, |900.

A.NM. BEINKE. I I

vowmm; GAME. (Application lad Aug. 11, 1900.) (No Model.)

gym@ Tn: uonms Farms co4 PHom-Lr'ma. wAsNmaroN n c UNTTnD STATES PATENTtrice.

AUGUST M. BEINKE, oF sT. LOUIS, MissoURI;

BOWLING GAME;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 661,730, datedNovember 13, 19O. Application ned lingua 11,1900. emi No. 26,544. uitmodel.)

To all La7/1,0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST M. BEINKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, `in the State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bowling Games, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a perspective view of the complete apparatus of myimprovedgame. Fig. II is an enlarged crossfsectional View taken on line II II,Fig. I. Fig. III is a vertical sectional view of one of the balls madeuse of in the game.

In the construction of the apparatus, as shown, 1 indicates an upright,which is preferablya tubular post, the lower end of which is seated in asuitable base 2, that rests upon the fioor or ground. This post isheldin a vertical position by guy rods or braces 3, the lower ends ofwhich are suitably anchored in the ground or to the floor, andthe upperends of which are secured in any suitable manner to the post at a pointnear its top. To the upper end of the post 1 is rigidly iixed aforwardly projecting arm 4, that is suitably braced, and to its forwardend is secured a transversely-positioned arm 5. Secured to and hangingfrom the ends of the arm 5 are the exible hangers 6, which arepreferably small wire ropes, the lower ends of which terminate near thefloor or ground and carry the bowling-balls 7. Seated in each ball is ashank 8, with the upperend of which is formed integral a smallball-shaped head 8, that enters a socket 9, rigidly secured to the lowerend of each hanger 6. swiveled and connected to its hanger by aball-and-socket joint. In each ball 7, adjacent the shank 8, are anumber of small bores 10, any one of which is adapted to receive a pin11, the outer end of which is provided with a small sheet-metal flag l2.By the use of this Hag the ball is guided or steered during its swingwhen thrown or bowled.

Fixed in the ground or to the floor at a point approximately beneath theforward end Thus each ball 7 is` of the bar l is a triangular plate 13,one point of which is in direct alinement with the post 1, and upon thisplate are arranged or set. up the objects or pins 14 made use of in thegame, said pins being preferably of the same shape and positioned thesame as are ordinary tenpins. Located on each side of the triangularplate is a rectangular plate 15, in the forward portion of which isformed a plurality of apertures 16. located on each of the plates 15,there being a post 18 formed integral with the forward end of each plate17, and integral with the under side of the forward end of each plate 17is a downwardly-projectiug stud 19, which is adapted to enter any one ofthe apertures 16. Located a short distance in front of the post 1 andadjustable longitudinally relative thereto is a transversely-positionedrail 20, that carries a bell 2l.

In playing the bowling gai-ne the objects or pins 14 are set up on thetriangular plate 13 in the manner of ordinary tenpins, with the frontpin at the rearmost point of the triangular plate, and the posts 1S arepositioned upon the plates 15 with the studs 19 in a corresponding pairof the apertures 16. The person playing the game grasps one of the balls7 and takes his position at a point a predetermined distance in front ofthe triangu- A small plate'17 is' lar plate 13. The ball is now bowledor thrown forwardly, the object being to cause said ball to swingforwardly outside one of the posts 1S and in its return toward theplayer to strike and knock over the objects 14 upon the plate 13. Shouldany of the objects 14 or the post 18 be struck by the forward swing ofthe ball, or should the bell 21 be rung as a result of the ball strikingthe rail 20, a foul is committed, which is penalized according to therules governing the play. The course of the ball when properly thrown orbowled is illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. I, and it will be seenthat the idea of the game is to throw or bowl the ball so that it willstrike nothing but the pins 14 during its entire forward and returnswing. In some instances it is found desirable to make use of the flagICO 12 to cause the ball 7 to swing in its proper course; but the use ofsaid iiag is not desirable to those familiar and expert with the,

game.

out the necessity of twisting the iiexible hanger, and also so that theball will turn freely after it has left the players hands and move inthe course -into which it has been swung. This feature is valuable inthe sense 1e that it prevents twisting and untwisting of the flexiblehanger, which would result in detriment to the true movement of the ballin its swinging course. As will be obvious to even a casual observer, ifthe"hanger were caused to twist and then untwist the ball would revolvein addition to its being swung and would beconstantlyswayedin suchmanner as to render its course untrue.

My im proved game is intended for use in 2e gymnasiums,pleasure-grounds, and the like,

and it is also my intention to construct the apparatus for playing thegame on a, small scale for use as a toy. Much pleasure and moderateexercise are gained by playing the v game,.and much skill is required tobecome accurate in upsetting all of the objects in one or two tries withthe halls.

I claim as my inventionl. In'a game of theclass described, an upupperportion of the saine, a flexible cable xed to and depending from thecross-piece a ball swiveled to the lowerend of the cable, the rail 2Oadjustable longitudinally with reference to and located in front of theframework, a bell secured to said rail, the Vtriangular pla'te 13, theapex of which is in direct alinement with the upright framework, pins 14adapted to be set up on said plate, a rectangular plate having a seriesof apertures located on each side of the triangular plate, a small plate17 located on each of said rectangular plates, a depending lug integralwith said plates adapted to engage the series of apertures in therectangular plates, and an upwardly-extending post secured to each ofthe plates 17, all combined and set up as de# scribed.

l 2. In a game of the character described, a flexible cable, one end ofwhich is secured firmly to a support, of a ball swiveled to the lowerend of the same, bores formed in said ball and a guide-dag the standardof which is adapted to be secured in said bores, whereby the, ball isguided in its movements.

3. In a game of the character described, the combination with theupright framework, a iexible cable secured te and depending from thesame. and a ball secured to the lower end Lofvthe cable,` of a railadjustable longitudinally with reference to and located in front 1 ofthe framework, and a bell secured on said rail.

3o right framework, a cross-piece fixed in the AUGST ivLBEINKE.

In presence 0f- E. S. KNIGHT, M. P. SMITH.

